What if?

[dean]

Hi, I was trying to fathom out the possible answers to this question.
What if Alexander had lost at Granicus, Issos, Guagamela?
I am sure that in Alexander's mind failure never even was considered. I mean he woke up late on the morning of the awesome battle of Issos- I understand this to mean that his confidence in his success was absolute. But I think that that was his way at looking at any of his endeavours. He came through thanks to his genius, mastery on the battlefield and prowess in command. But faliure, regardless of how confident he was, was a possibilty.
What do you think would have happened if he had lost at any of the big battles?

[davej]

It certainly would not have help his propaganda about being aniketos (unbeatable). I the first editions of P Greens biography on Alexander, he argues that ATG lost at Granicus on the first day and came back the second day for a resounding victory. It is an interesting arguement that has not survived closer scrutiny. I do not think Alexander would have been able to maintain momentum had he lost any of the major engagements. Success bring success. PArticularly at the begining if he had lost he would not have been able to continue. He had no food or supplies t speak of, he had to keep moving on like a plague of locusts eating everything in there path.